George’s musical journey began at around ten years old when he got his first guitar, quickly becoming captivated by the world of music. Influenced by legends like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix, he immersed himself in classic rock and traditional blues. As a young teen, George frequented local blues jams with his dad, waiting in the corner with his Stratocaster until it was his turn to play. Over time, his musical interests expanded, leading him to study music theory, sing in choirs, act in plays and musicals, and perform original music with his band around Tampa, Florida.
In 2018, George graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from the University of South Florida, earning national recognition for his innovative work in progressive music education. During his studies, he traveled across the United States, conducting guitar workshops and lectures on modern music curriculum, digital instruments, and recording arts skills. Outside of his academic pursuits, George taught high school a cappella groups, guitar classes, and private lessons, while maintaining an active performance and touring schedule with his band.
George has graced many music festivals and iconic venues across the United States, including Gasparilla Music Festival, Suwannee Hulaween, Brainquility Music and Arts Festival, Rockwood Music Hall, and Whisky A Go Go. In November 2022, he opened for the Gipsy Kings at Ruth Eckerd Hall. His work with companies like Michael Kelly Guitars, Washburn, Peavey, and Cort has seen him compose, perform, and create social media content, including music for social media posts and on-camera guitar demonstrations. He has also appeared in a national television commercial for Wasabi, a social media campaign for Hell House Whiskey, and a documentary film.
George’s diverse musical experiences include singing with the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, participating in the GRAMMY Museum’s Music Revolution Project, and being a member of several bands, including Troy Youngblood and the Soulfish, Displace, Funky D’s Deja Voodoo, and BookHead Sweettooth. He currently leads George Pennington and the Odyssey. He has released two albums: “Strength and Song,” which showcases his electric guitar skills and blends futuristic blues, hard rock, psychedelic funk, and jazz fusion, and “Daydream Sequence,” highlighting his acoustic guitar prowess, classical technique, and compositional sophistication.
As a dedicated teacher, George has directed the high school a cappella group “The Beatitones” and administered the “Buccaneer Rock n’ Roll Camp,” a summer camp culminating in a student concert of original music. He has been a featured clinician at the Florida Music Educators Crossover Festival and was part of the inaugural class of the GRAMMY Museum’s “GRAMMY Music Revolution Project” in 2013. From January to March 2017, he directed a twelve-week concert series, “George Pennington’s School of Music,” organizing public masterclasses, music history lectures, and classes on topics like music theory, piano, opera, and guitar heroes. George continues to teach private lessons both in-person and virtually to students of all ages and skill levels. In 2019, he was awarded an Artists’ Grant by the Hillsborough County Arts Council and has developed an online instructional course for guitarists set to be released soon.
George has another album of music on the way.